Multiple container package

ABSTRACT

A package of a plurality of cans arranged in adjacent linear rows and overwrapped in a heat-shrunken tubular web of thermoplastic film having joined overlapping web layers on the top of the package with finger holes within the area of the joined overlapped web layers located above the void spaces formed within the can groupings.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor Joseph D. Greenwell Wilmington, Del. 722,662

[21] Appl. No. [22] Filed 3,140,039 229/62 3,388,788 6/1968Hellem..,................ 206/45 33 3,447,675 206/4533 Apr. 19, 1968Patented Jan. 26, 1971 Assignee EJ-du pom De Nemours and Company 6/1969Wilmington, Del. Primary ExaminerJames B. Marbert a corporation ofDelaware. Attorneylvan G, Szanto [54] Z i Z CONTAINER PACKAGE ABSTRACT:A package of a plurality of cans arranged in adalms, 7 Drawing Figs.

jacent linear rows and overwrapped 1n a heat-shrunken tubu- [52] US. larweb of thermoplastic film having joined overlapping web layers on thetop of the package with finger holes within the area of the joinedoverlapped web layers located above the void spaces formed within thecan groupings.

206/65 [51] Int. B65d 65/02 [50] Field 206/65C,

45.33; 229/40, 62, 48T, SC, (Digest) PATENTEU JAN26 197i FIG-2' FIG-5FIG-6b FIG-6(1 INVENTOR JOSEPH D. GREENWELL ATTORNEY MULTIPLE CONTAINERPACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Thisinvention is related to packaging and more particularly to the packagingof a plurality of cans in a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic filmoverwrap.

2. Description of the Prior Art One of the most prevalent packages forcanned beverages on the market today is the multipack type of package.This package usually comprises a grouping of from four to eight cansinto a common assemblage. voluminous art exists relating to the designsof sixpack types of packages. One such design comprises the grouping ofcans overvvrapped in a tubular web of heat shrunken thermoplastic filmand has finger receiving holes in the overwrap located above the voidareas formed by the groupings of four adjacent cans. This design ofpackage generally requires a heavier gage web on the package top wherethe finger holes are located than is required for the achievement ofsufficient strength on the package sides and bottom. In practice suchoverwraps commonly are formed of two webs which are side sealed togetherto form a tube prior to the heat shrinking of the overwrap. For example,a l mil thick web of heat shrinkable polyethylene is employed for use onthe sides and the bottom of the package. and a I 1% mil thick web ofheat shrinkable polyethylene is employed on the top, finger-hole sidewith both webs sealed one to the other to form a tube. This procedureinsures a stronger web on the package top where most of the handlingstresses on the overwrap take place but requires the use of the two websof material to form the overwrap.

Another design of a similar type of package employs a tubular sleeve ofheat shrinkable thermoplastic film on which is bonded a separatereinforcing strip in the area of the finger receiving holes. Thispackage design provides for a strengthened top portion of the overwrapbut also requires that a separate web be used in the fabrication of thepackage to achieve the reinforcement of the package's finger-hole area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided in a package comprising a plurality of containers arranged in asubstantial wall-abutting relationship with one another whereby voidspaces are formed within container groupings and an overwrap of heatshrunken thermoplastic tubular film whose tubular axis is perpendicularto the direction of the axes of the containers, the overwrap arranged ina contour conforming configuration with the containers wherein theimproved overwrap comprises:

a web of thermoplastic film formed into a sleeve,

a band on the top of the package formed by at least two overlappinglayers of the web, the band having at least one finger holesubstantially aligned with the void space formed within the containergroupings, and

a bond between the two overlapping layers of the band.

The package of the present invention can be fabricated more readily thancan the existing packages of comparable design since the only packagingmaterial required is a single web of heat-shrinkable thermoplastic film.The cost of the packaging materials required is significantly lower thanis the cost for existing packages of comparable design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference to the following drawingswill facilitate the understanding of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the overwrap of thepackage taken across one of the finger holes of the package of FIG. I atSection 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of another embodimentof the overwrap of the package taken across one of the finger holesotthe package.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of still anotherembodiment of the overwrap of the package taken across one of the fingerholes of the package.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration ofa three layered reinforcing band.

FIG. 6a and 6b are schematic illustrationsof four layered reinforcingbands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The package shown in FIG. Icomprises a grouping of cans I and a thermoplastic, heat'shrinkableoverwrap 2. The cans I may have cylindrical walls, as shown, or flatwalls forming a polyhedron. The construction of the cans I can be of thethree-piece type or of the two-piece type having an upper recessedchime. The cans 1 can be fabricated from metal. paper or combinations ofmetal and paper products. The only limitation in reference to the cansused in the package of this invention is in their arrangement. The cansare arranged as shown in FIG. I with their axes parallel with oneanother and arranged in abutting linear groups so that void spaces areformed within the grouping of any four grouped cans. Groups of eg four,six, eight or more cans so arranged can be accommodated by the packageof the present invention. In the preferred embodiment the overwrap 2 isa 1% mil heatshrinkable polyethylene web such as 240 EH Clysan'(produced by E. l. du Pont de Nemours and Co.). This particular film isa balanced. biaxially oriented. heat-shrinkable polyethylene but thepractice of this invention is equally accomplished using uniaxiallyoriented film with the stretch axis running normal to the flow path ofthe cans being overwrapped. Other types of heat-shrinkable films usefulin forming the package shown in FIG. I are those manufactured bycommercial methods from polymers such as polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Theheat-shrinkable web employed must have sufficient shrinkage capabilityto tightly envelop the grouping of cans into a rigid structure that canbe handled conveniently. Thus, the required degree of orientation of thefilm employed for the overwrap 2 is dependent on the configuration ofthe cans l and the type of apparatus used to fabricate the package.

The overwrap 2 is formed from a single web of film. It preferably isformed into a tubular sleeve by overlapping the edges 2a and 2b of theweb on the top of the package being formed and sealing the overlappedweb layers by use of a single or preferably parallel, double, continuousseals 3 and 4 which are separated from each other to form a band 5comprising two layers of the web used to form the overwrap 2. To obtainadditional reinforcement the edges can be folded a number of timesyielding e.g. three or four overlapped film layers, as shown on FIG. 5(2g, 2g, 21, 21'), respectively. Finger holes 6 and 7 as shown in FIG. Iare melted into the band 5 directly above the void spaces formed withinthe grouping of any four grouped cans. It is preferred that these holesbe formed by a shaped heated element so that a polymeric bead is formedaround the periphery of each hole for reinforcement of the overwrap 2 ateach finger hole.

FIG. 2 shows a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the overwrap 2taken across Section 2-2 of FIG. 1 to further illustrate the structureof the reinforced finger holes. The overlapping edges 20 and 2b of theoverwrap 2 are sealed by heat or adhesive seals 3 and 4 to form the band5 shown in FIG. 1. Finger hole 6 is formed in the double layered band 5between seals 3 and 4. A reinforcing finger hole bead 8 bounds thefinger hole 6 and joins the two layers of the web in this region. It isnot necessary that a finger hole be formed in the overwrap above eachvoid space within every grouping of four cans since the provision of onefinger hole per package provides an adequate carrying means for thepackage. In the use of a single finger hole the person handling thepackage uses the one finger hole while placing his thumb in the region9, shown in FIG. I, of the overwrap. Six-pack and eight-pack packagescan be carried comfortably in this manner for extended periods of time.

H68. 3 and 4 show fragmentary sectional views of other embodiments ofthe overwrap taken across a finger hole to illustrate the structure ofthe overlapped web layers adjacent to the reinforced finger holes. lnFIG. 3 the overlapping web layers 20 and 2d are bonded together in thewide seal area and the finger hole 60 lies within the seal area 10 ofthe bonded web layers and 2d. The web layers 2c and M can be bonded byuse of a heated laminating roll similar to the rolls employed to formthe heat seals 3 and 4 shown in FIGv 2. The web layers 2c and 2d canalso be adhesively bonded e.g. by applying a vinyl acetate copolymer orlatex adhesive between the web layers prior to the passage of theoverlapping web layers through a laminating device.

In the embodiment shown in H6. 4 the web layers 22 and 2f are joinedtogether by a series of heat seals such as seals ll, 12, 13 and 14.These seals can be continuous as are those shown in FIG. 1 or they canbe discontinuous. Sealed areas such as obtained by use of heated knurledrolls or of heated waffle-grid surfaced rolls also provide joined weblayers of this same type wherein the web layers are joined in a bondedpattern as determined by the surface of the heated sealing roll employedto effect the seal between the web layers.

In the commercial production of the packages of this invention theheat-shrinkable, thermoplastic web is fed from a continuous lengthsupply roll into a tube forming section where the tubular sleeve isformed around preselected groups of containers. The two top seals aremade as the sleeve is closed around the container groupings. The desirednumber of finger holes are then melted through the double-web layer ontop of the container groupings. After the thermoplastic sleeve is formedaround the groupings of containers it is severed between groupings topermit an excess of the prefonned sleeve to extend beyond thelongitudinal confines of the individual container groupings.

Each package consisting of the grouped containers and the surroundingthermoplastic sleeve is then passed through a heat shrinking chamber.Typical heat shrinking temperatures employed while packaging at the rateof l20 packages per minute using 240 EH Clysan' film (heat shrinkablepolyethylene produced by E. l. du Pont dc Nemours and Co.) were 330 F.for preshrinking and 280 F. for total shrinking. The overwrap duringthis operation shrinks in all directions yielding a package as shown inFIG. 1. The shrinking forces exerted by the thermoplastic film causesthe overwrap to tightly enclose the containers on six sides so thatrelative container-to-container movement is restricted under normalhandling conditions. The heat required to shrink the overwrap isnormally transmitted by use of circulated hot air currents or by radiantheat transfer such as emitted from infrared light sources or fromelectrically energized resistance heating ele ments.

lclaim:

1. In a package comprising a plurality of containers arranged in asubstantial wall-abutting relationship with one another whereby voidspaces are formed within container groupings and an overwrap of heatshrunken thermoplastic tubular film whose tubular axis is perpendicularto the direction of the axes of the containers, said overwrap arrangedin a contour conforming configuration with the containers wherein theimproved overwrap comprises:

a web of thermoplastic film formed into a sleeve;

a hand on the top of the package formed by at least two overlappinglayers of said web. said band having at least one finger holesubstantially aligned with the void space formed within the containergroupings; and

a bond between the overlapping layers of said band.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said band comprises three overlappinglayers of said web.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein said band compriscs four overlappinglayers of said web.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein said bond is a layer of adhesive.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein said bond is a heat seal bond.

6. The package of claim I wherein said bond consists of at least twoheat seal joints substantiallyparallel to the axis of said sleeve.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein said bond consists of two continuouslinear heai seal joints substantially parallel to the axis of saidsleeve.

8. The package of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic film isheat-shrinkable polyethylene.

' .9. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers are arranged in twoabutting rows.

10. A package comprising a grouping of cans arranged in two adjacentlinear rows each consisting of at least two cans and an overwrap formedfrom a web of thermoplastic film enclosing said grouping 'of cans, saidweb being formed into a tubular sleeve whose tubular axis isperpendicular to the direction of the axes of the cans and said webhaving its overlapping edges sealed together to form a band comprisingat least two layers of film, said cans being arranged in abuttingrelationship with each other and forming a void space within a groupingof any four grouped cans and said band being positioned between saidrows of cans and having means defining at least one finger hole thereinsubstantially aligned with a said void space within a said grouping offour grouped cans.

1. In a package comprising a plurality of containers arranged in asubstantial wall-abutting relationship with one another whereby voidspaces are formed within container groupings and an overwrap of heatshrunken thermoplastic tubular film whose tubular axis is perpendicularto the direction of the axes of the containers, said overwrap arrangedin a contour conforming configuration with the containers wherein theimproved overwrap comprises: a web of thermoplastic film formed into asleeve; a band on the top of the package formed by at least twooverlapping layers of said web, said band having at least one fingerhole substantially aligned with the void space formed within thecontainer groupings; and a bond between the overlapping layers of saidband.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein said band comprises threeoverlapping layers of said web.
 3. The package of claim 1 wherein saidband comprises four overlapping layers of said web.
 4. The package ofclaim 1 wherein said bond is a layer of adhesive.
 5. The package ofclaim 1 wherein said bond is a heat seal bond.
 6. The package of claim 1wherein said bond consists of at least two heat seal jointssubstantially parallel to the axis of said sleeve.
 7. The package ofclaim 1 wherein said bond consists of two continuous linear heat sealjoints substantially parallel to the axis of said sleeve.
 8. The packageof claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic film is heat-shrinkablepolyethylene.
 9. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers arearranged in two abutting rows.
 10. A package comprising a grouping ofcans arranged in two adjacent linear rows each consisting of at leasttwo cans and an overwrap formed from a web of thermoplastic filmenclosing said grouping of cans, said web being formed into a tubularsleeve whose tubular axis is perpendicular to the direction of the axesof the cans and said web having its overlapping edges sealed together toform a band comprising at least two layers of film, said cans beingarranged in abutting relationship with each other and forming a voidspace within a grouping of any four grouped cans and said band beingpositioned between said rows of cans and having means defining at leastone finger hole therein substantially aligned with a said void spacewithin a said grouping of four grouped cans.